Fish-preserve dam



(No Model.)

S. MCELROY. FISH PRESBRVE DAM.

No. 450,490. Patented Apr. 14,1891.

www QL@ A TTOHNE YS UNITE STATES SAMUEL MCELROY, OF BROOKLYN, NEWv YORK.

FlSH-PRESERVE DANI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,490, dated April 14, 1891. Application filed October 23, 1890. Serial Nol 369,124. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL MCELROY, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Fish-Preserve Dam, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved dam specially designed for streams, ponds, dre., containing gametish, and which permits the free discharge of the ordinary and extraordinary stream and storm flow without permitting escape of the fish.

The invention consists of an auxiliary weir adapted to discharge into the ou tlet-chute of the ordinary weir.

The invention also consists in certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the improvement on the line l l of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The improvement is provided with a suitably-constructed dam A, in which is arranged transversely a chute B, formed by the two parallel side walls B B2, extending through the damAfrom the bottom of its downstream A to the upstream side A2. The upper ends of the walls B B2 are connected with each other by a head or cross wall B3, arranged to such a height as to iorm the ordinary overflow into the chute B. In the latter is arranged an inclined bottom B4, connecting at its upper end with a suitable step B5, formed at the inside of the cross-wall B3. The lower end of the inclined bottom BIl extends a suitable distance and terminates at a transverse or cross wall B6, extending above the lower end of the inclined bottom B4, which forms a water-pool and overflow for the tlow of water passing down the inclined bottom B4.

In order to prevent game-fish contained in the water of the pond or stream on the upstream side of the dam A from escaping through the chute B, a screen C is placed between the walls B B2 on top of the cross-wall B3. The ehuteB, with its screen C, forms the ordinary Weir. A wall D, 0f semiciroular or other form, is built on the outside of the wall B at the upstream side of the dam A, the top of the wall extending a suitable distance above the top of the cross-wall B3, as plainly shown in Figs. l and 3. This wall forms a basin E, the bottom of which extends horizontally, and its opening on the front side is into the chute B. The horizontal bottom ot this basin E is in line with the top of the projection B5, on which the inclined bottom BL terminates. A step E is formed on the inside of the wall D at a suitable height below its top, as is plainly shown in the drawings, so as to break the fall ot the waterwhen overflowing the top of the said Wall D. On the top of the latter is built a suitable number of piers D', between two adjacent ones of which is set a wire screenF F F2 F3, similar in construction to the screen C and extending to about the same height as thelatter. The end screens F and F3, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2, have their inner ends set into suitable recesses formed on the outside of the Wall B', the other end being in the corresponding piers D. This additional wall D, with its screens F F F2 F3, forms an auxiliary weir, which opens into the chute B by its basin E. Now it will be seen that as long as the water in the pond or stream at the upstream side of the dam A rises normally the overflow passes over the cross-wall D3 through the screen O into the chute B. When a heavy storm or flood sets in, the water naturally cannot be quickly discharged over the crosswall B3, and consequently the water rises until it finally passes over the wall D through the screens F F F2 F3 into the basin E and from the latter into the chute B below the cross-wall B3. Thus a suitable outlet is provided in case of stormtlow without permitting tish to escape, as the screens C F F F2 F2' prevent this.

As shown in the drawings, the dam A is provided on top with a roadway G, formed by an arch spanning the chute B. Alongside the latter is also formed a gate-house I-I by building a third wall I parallel to the wall B2, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2. Between the Walls B2 and I are arranged suitable gates J, so that the Water from the pond or stream can iiow between the upper part of the Walls I and B2. Atransverse wall K is built between the walls B2 and I. Below the gates J and through this wall K pass pipes L for carrying off water when the gates J are raised.

It is understood that the several walls, the sides ot' the dam, dac., are lined by proper material, such as cement masonry. It is also understood that in the ordinary Weir, as at present constructed, the screen C has to be removed in order to give proper vent to the water in case of a storm-flow, so that gameiish could easily escape over the cross-wall By making the auxiliary Weir a sufficient outlet for any surplus water is furnished. At the saine time sh cannot escape. It will further be seen that the discharge of the water through the chute Bis greatly facilitated by the inclined bottom Bi, which increases the velocity of the water passing over the cross-Wall B3 and the auxiliary Wall D.

Having thus described inyinvention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a fish-preserve dam, a chute extending transversely through the darn and comprising two parallel side walls7 a cross-Wall on the upstream side of the darn, an inclined iioor eX- tending from the said cross-wall downward to a suitable distance below the crest of the dam,

and a screen arranged on top or the said i cross-wall, substantially as shown and dei scribed.

2. ln a fish-preserve dannan auxiliary Weir adapted to discharge into the outlet-chute of the ordinary Weir, substantially as shown and described.

In a iish-preserve dam,the combination, with the ordinary Weir, of an auxiliary Weir arranged on the upstream side of the dam alongside the said ordinary Weir and adapted to discharge into the same, substantially as shown and described.

i. ln a fish-preserve dam, the combination, with an ordinary Weir having a chute with an inclined bottom, of an auxiliary Weir having its top arranged above the ordinary Weir and forming a basin discharging into the said chute, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a fish-preserve dam, the combination, with an ordinary Weir, of an auxiliary Weir having its top arranged above the top of the ordinary Weir, substantially as shown and described.

t'. In a fish-preserve dam, the combination, with an ordinary Weir, of an auxiliary Weir having its top arranged above the top of the ordinary Weir, and a basin formed in the said auxiliary Weir and discharging into the outlet-chute of the said ordinary Weir,` substantially as shown and described.

SAMUEL MCELROY.

Witnesses;

THEO. G. liosrnn, if. SEDGWIOK. 

